The problem with Preview

November 24, 2008 8:47 AM

MacFilter: How do I get Preview back?

I recently got an iBook G4 to complement my iMac G5. While transferring files from the G5 to the G4 I noticed that the laptop had a newer version of Preview than the one on my G5.

Without really thinking about it I moved the one from the laptop to the G5, replacing the older version. Now, Preview won't work at all on the G5 (error code -34). It still works fine on the laptop.

I still have my startup disks, but they only allow one the option to re-install all the original G5 software as a bundle. I'm worried this will overwrite existing files (e.g. my photos) in the current software so I don't really want to do that.

Anyone know how I can get Preview to work again on my iMac? Alternatively, is there a program out there that performs similar functions that I could get in its stead?

posted by jammy to computers & internet (3 comments total)

Pacifist should let you pull out just the files you want off of the OS X install disk.
posted by JiBB at 8:58 AM on November 24, 2008 [5 favorites has favorites]

If you reinstall the OS from the disks, choose "archive and install." That will leave everything in your user folder untouched, including your photos, and will reinstall the OS and applications, leaving everything old in "Old System Folder" or somesuch.
posted by lostburner at 9:32 AM on November 24, 2008

thank you muchly, JiBB!
Pacifist worked like a charm

it's nice when things are easy... :)
posted by jammy at 9:55 AM on November 24, 2008